Picture frame and plaque

ABSTRACT

Double frame members are permanently sealed in a spaced parallel relationship. The front frame has a glass or other transparent panel therein for exposing a picture to view. The rear frame has a tapered guide slot formed therein with a second panel which is positioned in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to the front panel. A picture is inserted into the frame through the guide slot. The taper of the slot guides the picture into and out of the space between the front and back panels. A finger opening in the back panel enables removal or straightening of the picture. The frame is generally mounted on a plaque through an opening therein.

United States Patent 91 Dean 1451 Oct. 22, 1974 [73] Assignee:Contemporary, Inc Manitowoc,

Wis. 54220 [22] Filed: July 20. 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 381,012

[52] US. Cl. 40/159 [51] Int. Cl. G09f 1/10 [58] Field of Search 40/152.158, 159. 158 B, 40/20 A, 10, 325; 281/31 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 522.484 7/1894 Odgers 40/159 1.014.312 l/19l2 Line....40/152 1.361.678 12/1920 Buck 40/158 B 2.253.814 8/1941 Sames 1 40/1592.353.328 7/1944 Winston 40/10 R 2.506.509 5/1950 Kratkowski 40/1522.747.310 5/1956 Tierney 40/10 R 2.801.11 7/1957 Federbush et a1. 40/159X 23311: 5/1958 Kiehl et a1. 40/159 Engelstein 40/158 R Wengel 40/153 RPrimary ExaminerR0bert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J.Contreras Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Alter, Weiss. Whitesel & Laff [57]ABSTRACT Double frame members are permanently sealed in a spacedparallel relationship. The front frame has a glass or other transparentpanel therein for exposing a picture to view. The rear frame has atapered guide slot formed therein with a second panel which ispositioned in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to the frontpanel. A picture is inserted into the frame through the guide slot. Thetaper of the slot guides the picture into and out of the space betweenthe front and back panels. A finger opening in the back panel enablesremoval or straightening of the picture. The frame is generally mountedon a plaque through an opening therein.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PICTURE FRAME AND PLAQUE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to frames and more particularly to lowcost, quick change picture frames, especially for use in combinationwith a plaque.

Picture frames are, of course, well known devices, having many uses.Usually, it is necessary to go through a disassembly process of removingparts of the frame prior to an insertion of a picture, document, or thelike, hereinafter generally called graphical display. Then, after thegraphical display is inserted, the frame must be reassembled, often withfinger prints on the inside of the glass, with crooked or skewedgraphical display, and the like. In general, this type of a frame hasbeen somewhat cumbersome to use and relatively expensive to make or buy.Furthermore, where frames have heretofore been mounted on plaques, theyhave been affixed to one face of the plaque affording excessivethickness to the overall plaque. It was also often difficult to insertpictures into, and remove pictures from, the frame when they have beenattached to plaques.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide new and improvedframes for graphic display. Another object is to provide a frame whichmay be quickly and easily filled or emptied of its graphical display. Afurther object is to provide a frame wherein the enclosed graphicaldisplay may be straightened with a minimum of difficulty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame which isespecially well suited for use on or in combination with plaques,display boards, or the like. Here, an object is to provide a frame whichdoesnot add any appreciable thickness to the plaque.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide low cost frames whichare adaptable to be produced in large quantities and almost any quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In keeping with an aspect of the invention,these and other objects of the invention are accomplished by means ofdouble frame members which are permanently sealed in a spaced parallelrelationship. The front frame has a glass or other transparent paneltherein for exposing to view a graphical display. The rear frame has atapered guide slot formed therein with a second panel which ispositioned in a spaced parallel relationship with respect to the frontpanel. To insert a graphic display into the frame, it is only necessaryto cut it to size and then to fit it into the guide slot. The taper ofthe slot guides the graphic display into and out of the space betweenthe front and back panels. A finger opening in the back panel enables aremoval or straightening of the graphic display. The two frame membersare inserted through an opening in a plaque and sealed, one member beingon one face of the plaque and the other member being on the oppositeplaque face. The members may be sealed together or to the plaque.Because of flanges on the front and back frame members, the members stayin position in the plaque.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view, in perspective,of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a rear perspective view of the fronfipanel of the embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the assembled unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the assembled unit of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4-7 are four cross-sectional views taken along line 44 of FIG. 2,showing the steps of inserting the graphical display into and removingit from the frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In greater detail, FIG. 1 showsan exemplary plaque 20 having any suitable emblem 21 and informationplate 22 on the end and having a window or opening 23 on the other end.The plaque may be constructed of wood or other suitable material. Adouble frame comprises a front member 24 and a back member 25 shaped andproportioned to fit into the window 23.

The front member 24 comprises an escutcheon 26 and a supporting frame 27(see FIG. 1A) for receiving a transparent panel 28 of any type, such asglass or plastic, for example. The rear member 25 comprises a centralpanel 29 and a supporting frame 32. The two supporting frames 27, 32 areshaped and proportioned to fit together in a manner which positions thetransparent panel 28 and the rear panel 29 in a spaced parallelrelationship 33, as seen in FIG. 4. The outside dimensions of thesupporting frames 27, 32 are such that they fit into window 23 withoutadding any appreciable thickness to the plaque 20, as seen in FIGS. 4-7.The members 24, 25 may be permanently secured in relation to the plaque20 by either gluing together or by gluing to the plaque faces. Othersuitable means of securing the assembly together may be employed.

The back of the supporting frame 27 of the front member 24 has fourprotuberances 31 which are adapted to fit into recesses 37 provided onthe plaque. This permits members 24, 25 to be properly aligned inrelation to the plaque 20.

The rear panel 29 includes a guide slot 34 for receiv ing a graphicaldisplay (FIG. 3). The upper edge of the panel 29 (lower edge 35 of slot34) is tapered inwardly to guide the graphical display into the frameand space 33, as seen in FIG. 5. The upper edge 36 of the slot 34 istapered outwardly to guide the graphical display out of the frame, asseen in FIG. 7.

As seen in FIG. 5, the graphical display 40 may be dipped in direction Ainto the guide slot 34 and pushed into position inside the space 33between the transparent panel 28 and the rear panel 29. The upper edgeof rear panel 29 has a relieved area 42 (FIG. 3) for enabling thegraphical display 40 to be pushed down into its final resting position.

When the graphical display 40 is pushed into such final position insidethe space 33 (FIG. 6), it may be viewed through the transparent panel 28in the manner of a picture in a picture frame.

A suitable finger hole 43 is formed in the back panel 29 for enabling auser to place his finger 44 against the back of the graphical display(FIG. 7). In this manner, the display 40 may be straightened in theframe or pushed upwardly in direction B, for removal from the frame.When so pushed, the graphical display 40 bears against the taperedsurface 36 at the top of the slot 35 and is guided out of the slot.

The plaque may be provided with suitable means for supporting it in botha hanging and a free standing posi- 3 tion. This means includes anelongated spring-like member 50 with a hole 51 formed in one end thereofand a supporting leg 52 formed on the other end thereof. A screw 53secures the member 50 to the plaque at a point intermediate the ends 51,52. The end of member 50 having the hole 51 has an offset relief sectionproviding clearance between end 51 and plaque 20. Thus, the head of ascrew, nail, or hanger may be passed through the hole 51 and into theoffset relief area. In this manner, the plaque may be hung on a wall.

The end 52 is a cantilevered arm which may be pulled away from theplaque 20. The arm 52 bends near the screw 53 so that it projects awayfrom the plaque to support it when it is setting on a table or similarsurface. A scoreline 54 may be provided to facilitate bending. Thus, theinventive plaque and frame may be supported in different manners.

Briefly, in summary, the plaque may serve any convenient function, suchas to commemorate an event, confer an award, preserve a memory or thelike. The double frame member may be placed in the plaque in anysuitable manner. The frame may be low cost metal or plastic, or it maybe of precious metal. Hence, the invention may be made as low cost orhigh cost as may be desirable. The shape and configuration of the framesand plaques may vary according to the users needs and wishes.

Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover allequivalent structures falling within the scope and the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. An article comprising a plaque having a predetermined thickness andan opening therein, front and rear frame members positioned within saidopening in said plaque and held in a space parallel relationship byabuttment against opposite sides of said plaque, the front member havingan opening for exposing to view a graphical display, the rear memberhaving a panel with a guide slot formed therein, said guide slot beingpositioned to enable the insertion and removal of a graphic display intothe frame and in the space between the front and back panels.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein a transparent panel is integral withthe front member and extends across the opening therein so that thegraphical display is viewed through the transparent panel.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the guide slot is tapered to facilitateinsertion and removal of a graphic display.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein a finger opening is included in thepanel of the rear member to enable removal or straightening of thegraphic display.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the front member includes a firstframe member having an escutcheon integrally formed thereon, forsupporting the transparent panel, and the rear member includes a secondframe member having an escutcheon integrally formed thereon forsupporting the rear panel, said first and second frame members beingshaped and proportioned to telescope and fit together within saidthickness of said plaque without adding substantial thickness theretoand said escutcheons forming said abuttments against said opposite sidesof said plaques.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein the front member escutcheon fills thespace in a window in said plaque between said transparent panel and saidplaque.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein a finger opening is included in thepanel of said rear member for removing or straightening said graphicdisplay.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein a tapered relieved area is provided inthe guide slot for positioning the graphic display.

9. The article of claim 8, wherein means are included on said plaque forsupporting it in either a hanging or a free-standing position.

10. The article of claim 8 wherein a plurality of locating pins areprovided on the back of the escutcheon on the front member and recessesare provided on the plaque for receiving the locating pins whereby thefront and back members are properly aligned in relation to the plaque.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein the locating pins are eachpositioned in a corner of the back of the escutcheon of the frontmember.

1. An article comprising a plaque having a predetermined thickness andan opening therein, front and rear frame members positioned within saidopening in said plaque and held in a space parallel relationship byabuttment against opposite sides of said plaque, the front member havingan opening for exposing to view a graphical display, the rear memberhaving a panel with a guide slot formed therein, said guide slot beingpositioned to enable the insertion and removal of a graphic display intothe frame and in the space between the front and back panels.
 2. Thearticle of claim 1 wherein a transparent panel is integral with thefront member and extends across the opening therein so that thegraphical display is viewed through the transparent panel.
 3. The deviceof claim 2 wherein the guide slot is tapered to facilitate insertion andremoval of a graphic display.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein a fingeropening is included in the panel of the rear member to enable removal orstraightening of the graphic display.
 5. The article of claim 4 whereinthe front member includes a first frame member having an escutcheonintegrally formed thereon, for supporting the transparent panel, and therear member includes a second frame member having an escutcheonintegrally formed thereon for supporting the rear panel, said first andsecond frame members being shaped and proportioned to telescope and fittogether within said thickness of said plaque without adding substantialthickness thereto and said escutcheons forming said abuttments againstsaid opposite sides of said plaques.
 6. The article of claim 5 whereinthe front member escutcheon fills the space in a window in said plaquebetween said transparent panel and said plaque.
 7. The article of claim6 wherein a finger opening is included in the panel of said rear memberfor removing or straightening said graphic display.
 8. The article ofclaim 7 wherein a tapered relieved area is provided in the guide slotfor positioning the graphic display.
 9. The article of claim 8, whereinmeans are included on said plaque for supporting it in either a hangingor a free-standing position.
 10. The article of claim 8 wherein aplurality of locating pins are provided on the back of the escutcheon onthe front member and recesses are provided on the plaque for receivingthe locating pins whereby the front and back members are properlyaligned in relation to the plaque.
 11. The article of claim 10 whereinthe locating pins are each posItioned in a corner of the back of theescutcheon of the front member.